Week 15 Video Blog

For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

Greenburg on art criticism: According to Clement Greenberg, "writing about visual art is much tougher than writing about literature or music". Greenburg felt some of the best criticisim he ever read was the criticism of music.  He says the great critics of the past like Ruskin and Sylvester weren't philosophical but knew the nature of the value judgment. He mentioned that he knew how to read, and that he knew that art. Greenberg claimed that true art is a product of the Enlightenment's revolution of critical thinking, and as such resists and recoils from the degradation of culture in both mainstream capitalist and communist society. He also felt good art could come from anywhere, you just have to be receptive to it. 

An introduction to the Italian Renissance: The Renaissance is marked by a renewed enthusiasm in the arts and many Italian artists contribute to its development. The byzantines artists followed set rules that protrayed their religions, and were not allowed to created realistic images that mimic gods work. so byzantine work became flatter and flatter. Giotto is one of the first artists to revive the realistic style of the Romans by using perspective found in architecture and landscape. Giotto influenced many artists. Cabinet makers and goldsmith are also artist, they carve and shape, hammer and chissel, therefore they are considered to be artist as well. Masaccio's figures reveal physical and psychological depth. He also shows emotion in his art. In the sculpture "David," Michelangelo drives for perfection, creating a powerful symbol of the Republic. The painted ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Florence represents man's relationship to God. At 14yrs old he was given free access to the gardens with particular artworks. Michelangelo was convinced that by creating physical beauty he represented the essense of the super natural and of the devine.

Do the videos relate to the creation of your Art Criticism project? If yes, explain how. If no, explain why not.

Both videos do relate to art critisim. The first was a video inteview with an actual critic and the second seemed as if it was a father and son talking about the sons journey, yet the father was criticing each artist his son came across. He also got a little history lesson in there as well. 

What is your opinion of the films? Do they add depth to understanding of art criticism?

As i learned a lot already about art throughout this course, these videos was kind of a refresher for me. I learned more about michaelango from this film and the italian renaissance. Art is history and there is always a lesson to be learned behind it. Overall art is whatever we want it to be.